AC 378 GT Zagato

At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, one of the less well known world debuts came courtesy of a joint venture between AC Cars and Italian coachbuilders Zagato. If the AC 378 GT Zagato looks familiar, then that’s probably because you’ve seen the  Perana Z-One before. Well basically the AC 378 GT Zagato IS the Perana Z-One, just with a different name. AC Cars are reasonably honest about the vehicle’s beginnings, however they say the car was announced back in 2009 as the ‘Perana Concept’, while forgetting to mention that the car wasn’t originally designed with AC Cars in mind. It was intended to be sold under the Perana banner as a South African-built supercar. The South African connection remains however, and all AC 378 GT Zagatos will be built and tested there.

The Pera… Sorry, AC 378 GT Zagato is powered by a GM-sourced 6.2 litre V8 which develops 434 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. The transmission is a six-speed manual which sends all the power to the rear wheels. With a total weight of 1,465 kgs (3,230 lbs), the AC 378 GT Zagato can scoot to 60 mph in under four seconds. Top speed is 185 mph.

The AC 378 GT Zagato may have originated from an unrelated project born in the far-away lands of South Africa, but something about the classically proportioned shape of the original Perana Z-One lends itself quite well to a modern day AC. Although there are a few things about the AC Cars press release which stick in throat.

The line; “One of the world’s oldest car brands welcomes a modern addition to its range of Cobra-pedigree supercar classics at the Geneva Motor Show.” Should read; “One of the world’s oldest car brands has bought the rights to build an unrelated supercar from a struggling new manufacturer.”

While the sentence: “AC Cars is building on 111 years of heritage with a proven pedigree of developing some of the most desirable combinations of British sports car know-how and American muscle power.”Actually means; “AC Cars is ditching 111 year of heritage in favor of buying South African sports car know how and American muscle power”.

The car will initially be offered in the UK and Germany, priced at £89,990 and €109,990 respectively. No word yet on other potential markets. The first cars are expected to be delivered mid 2012. And to keep themselves busy they’re already working on a roadster version.